RunRyder - Now Testing the Orbit Microlader V6.3 !!!

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e-Electric Batteries & Chargers > Now Testing the Orbit Microlader V6.3 !!!

hpilotrc

Veteran - Location: NY--->>Mooresville, NC USA 8/2005 -

Tonight I received my new Orbit Microlader V6.3 w/PC Interface.

I have tried it with a Pb Battery and a Li-ion and so far the results are excellent!

Anyone who is thinking of a Triton may want to reconsider - and spend twice the amount for a much better charger. I believe the Orbit is well worth the extra money. I bought mine from: RadicalRC.com

Initial findings on the Orbit are:

No noisy fan....especially when it is discharging a pack that doesn't need a fan to dissapate the heat. The Tritons fan is ALWAYS on when discharging a battery no matter what the discharge current is selected to. This is annoying and not necessary.

Constant Voltage mode when charging lead acid and Li-Ion Batteries actually works correctly with the Orbit! The Triton performs poorly when charging these batteries. It either charges too slow or turns off prematurely.

Display is 2X 16 characters which in order to get on a Schulze you have to spend alot more money. Also the LCD display is backlit!

I have the PC Interface which I have not had time to try yet.

Easy to use programs and features....of which I must admit I haven't tried all yet. The next several days I will truly test my new Orbit and report back on this thread. I will also include some pics of the Orbit.

Right now my Orbit has been charging a "fully charged by TRITON" Li-Ion battery and has been going for 1hr 17min and has put an additional 302 mAh into the battery that the Triton missed! The charge current is down to 0.10A and probably will shut off soon. It's nice to know that the charger is actually working right.

For all you Triton users that says I am "whining" good luck with your Tritons! You will need it especially if charging Lead Acid and Li-Ion or Li-Po batteries.

By the way I am waiting for credit for the return of my #3 Triton charger. I hope Great Planes will eventually wake up and fix all its flaws. The Triton would be a nice charger if it worked correctly - like the Orbit does!

A peek inside the Orbit Microlader V6.3 w/PC:

Michael

11-20-2003 Over year old.

HOMEPAGE

rickc
Elite Veteran
Location: Creve Coeur IL. (Peoria Area)

I've had my Orbit Pro for a little over a year now and find it to be my favorite charger, I own a Triton also. Both work well but the Orbit is the powerhouse. Using the interface is a cool thing to do. You can keep an eye on charging from a different room. My workshop and charger is downstairs but I can monitor my charging upstairs from the computer room. Also keep tabs on a pack, you can save the charge record from today and compare it to a charge record from 6 months ago to see if the batteries capacity has changed.

Rick

11-20-2003 Over year old.

HOMEPAGE

JKos
Elite Veteran
Location: City of California in the state of Maryland

I also recently made the switch from the Triton to the Orbit Microlader. IMHO the Orbit is a much, much better charger. Not only is it more capable in what it can charge cell and current wise, but it is also built like a tank compared to the Triton. I had issues with my Triton similar to hpilotrc. The Orbit works perfectly everytime.

I find the Orbit very easy to use although I will admit that I still have to peek at the instruction manual occasionally to double check its code letters and what the buttons do at each point for the different charge/discharge modes. In that respect, the Triton has it beat simply because the Triton has a more verbose display and menu system.

The backlit display is very cool. I haven't used my PC interface yet as my standard charging location isn't close enough to a computer to make the connection.

Bottom line is that if you can get an Orbit used or can afford the extra dough over the Triton don't think twice and just do it.

- John

11-20-2003 Over year old.

hpilotrc
Veteran
Location: NY--->>Mooresville, NC USA 8/2005

Where to buy an Orbit Microlader Charger...

Try:

www.radicalrc.com

Service is great. He is the authorized service center in the USA.

Michael

01-23-2004 Over year old.

HOMEPAGE

IMZ Caliber
Senior Heliman
Location: Chesapeake, VA USA

www.fxaeromodels.com

Fitz also has them. He is in texas i believe

01-23-2004 Over year old.

bgotori
Heliman
Location: Los Angeles, Ca.

Hey hpilotrc

Your statement

""been going for 1hr 17min and has put an additional 302 mAh into the battery""

What amp setting is it at(1.5)??? Do you know at what percentage of charge, does it start to reduce the amperage??? Kind of sounds like a long time for 302mAh's...

Thanks!!!

Brad Gotori
bgotori@hotmail.com

01-23-2004 Over year old.

hpilotrc
Veteran
Location: NY--->>Mooresville, NC USA 8/2005

Brad,

That was done a while ago if you check the date.

I started with a 1C rate..... 1.2 Amps As stated at that time the current folded back to 100 ma.

I may have just put that battery onto the Orbit to see what addtional energy would be put into the pack. In that case the Orbit would have folded back current immediately to keep the voltage down. The Orbit has a PC interface so I can see exactly what is going on at any time.

Unlike the Triton the Orbit charges at what current you select. If I select 1.5 A it will go to that providing the battery is discharged enough. The Tritons I had never wanted to go past 600 to 700 mah! This is with a Li-Ion 7.2V battery (1200mah capacity).

Michael

01-23-2004 Over year old.

HOMEPAGE

IMZ Caliber
Senior Heliman
Location: Chesapeake, VA USA

bgotori,

you asked "Do you know at what percentage of charge, does it start to reduce the amperage???"

The answer is that i varies on the health of your batteries. I've seen mine charge at 2 amps for 1600 mah pack until 1250mah. Thats roughly 78%, then i have seen it drop after 300mah on a 1020 pack which is 30%.

Also by monitoring the charge and discharge habits from day one you can see when a pack is on its last leg as well as compare which brands really produce the best cells for your application. I've had 1600mah battery cells that were only good to 3C and have a higher average voltage of 7.49v during a 2amp dishcharge as compared to a 1500mah pack that is good to 8C but had an average voltage of 7.1v during the same 2 amp discharge.

01-24-2004 Over year old.

bgotori
Heliman
Location: Los Angeles, Ca.

Hey hpilotrc

Thanks for the info!!!

Brad Gotori
bgotori@hotmail.com

01-25-2004 Over year old.

bgotori
Heliman
Location: Los Angeles, Ca.

Hey rchelitek

Ok that seem reasonable, I was hoping it kind of worked like that. Wonder what kind of programming it would take to make it charge at your set rate until it was 95% charged, no matter what the condition of the battery... Yea, I know it probably wouldn't be good, but I'm used to my old Victor charger that will charge like that with NiCad and NiMh... Oh Well.

Thanks!!!

Brad Gotori
bgotori@hotmail.com

01-25-2004 Over year old.

RCMarket
Key Veteran
Location: Belgium , Europe

hpilotrc

"Tonight I received my new Orbit Microlader V6.21 w/PC Interface"

All orbit products from 2-3 months ago are already V6.3!!!

Alex (Formerly Known as Futurac )

01-25-2004 Over year old.

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e-Electric Batteries & Chargers > Now Testing the Orbit Microlader V6.3 !!!

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